EFFECTS OF MARITIME GOVERNANCE IN HARNESSING THE BLUE ECONOMY ALONG THE KENYAN COASTLINE
EFFECTS OF MARITIME GOVERNANCE IN HARNESSING THE BLUE ECONOMY ALONG THE KENYAN COASTLINE
Wanjiru Leah Nyokabi - Student, Master of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Daniel Mange Mbirithi - Lecturer, Department of Educational Management, Policy and Curriculum Studies, School of Education & Lifelong Learning, Kenyatta University
ABSTRACT
Kenya’s blue economy potential has not yet been fully exploited. It is estimated that the blue economy, if used properly, has the potential to inject up to 4.8 billion US dollars to Kenya’s economy and create over 52,000 jobs in the next ten years, this combined with a sustainable approach should make a difference in the protection of the maritime ecosystem domain. The activities commonly understood to represent the blue economy includes maritime shipping, fishing and aquaculture, coastal tourism, renewable energy, water desalination, undersea cabling, deep sea mining and biotechnology among others. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of maritime governance in harnessing the blue economy along the Kenyan coastline. The objectives were: to determine the effects of maritime defense and security along the Kenyan coastline; The study was guided by environmental governance and precautionary theories. The study adopted a descriptive research design focusing on the coastal county of Mombasa. The study targeted the adult population in Mombasa County. A total of 324 respondents who were involved in the maritime sector form the sample size. However, the target population being small and manageable, purposive and census sampling was utilized to select the participants. Questionnaires were used in data collection. Data were cleaned before coding and entering into the Statistical Package Social Sciences (version 26) for data analysis. The frequency and percentages tables, mean and standard deviation were used to transform quantitative information into meaningful information. The findings revealed that maritime security, maritime defense, maritime safety and maritime ecosystem protection significantly affect the harnessing of the blue economy. The findings established that robust governance frameworks are essential in mitigating threats such as piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing, which have historically plagued the Kenyan coastline. The study concludes that maritime security and maritime defense significantly affect the harnessing of the blue economy. Effective maritime governance plays a crucial role in harnessing the blue economy potential along the Kenyan coastline. The study recommends that Government of Kenya should continue investing in maritime security measures by strengthening cooperation with international partners, enhancing surveillance capabilities, and implementing effective strategies to combat piracy and illegal fishing activities. This will safeguard maritime resources and create a secure environment for economic development.
